CHANGES IN CALCIUM CURRENTS DURING ETHANOL WITHDRAWAL IN A GENETIC MOUSE MODEL

Changes in voltage dependent calcium currents in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal slice during ethanol withdrawal were studied using an alcohol withdrawal seizure prone mouse strain (WSP) and compared to a withdrawal-resistant strain (WSR). There was a significant increase in the high voltage activated calcium currents during the withdrawal per iod in the WSP strain, while those of the resistant strain showed no s ignificant enhancement. These results suggest that an increase in calc ium currents is one factor involved in the alcohol withdrawal hyperexc itability of the prone strain observed in vivo.